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SEE...The Difference! |
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Stell Environmental Enterprises, Inc. |
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Project Description |
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Land, water and people come together to form the regional landscape known as the Highlands. Stretching from Connecticut to Pennsylvania, this region contains vast acres of forests, farms, pristine waters, and quaint communities. Careful protection, management, and use of the natural resources located in this federally-designated “nationally significant region” are essential for the long-term sustainability of both the natural and built environments that benefit current and future generations.
SEE is leading an endeavor to employ grass roots assistance in the protection of the Highlands Region in Pennsylvania through education and outreach efforts. Working closely with the Highlands Coalition and the Appalachian Mountain Club, meetings are being conducted with county and local government agencies, non-profit conservation organizations, and foundations to enlist their help to identify the most important resource areas, or Critical Treasures, located within the region. These Critical Treasures will be incorporated into a Greenway Network Map which will provide a framework for conservation activities within the region.
The U.S. Congress passed the Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) in November 2004 which approved $100 million over a 10 year period to fund conservation projects that will protect the highest value resources in the region. The HCA also required the U.S. Forest Service to conduct an official study of the resources within the region. SEE is working closely with the Forest Service to help identify and interpret the numerous existing studies of the Pennsylvania Highlands area based upon unique experience of a staff member who formerly acted as the grant manager for many of these planning efforts while employed with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Accelerating the Forest Service study will result in earlier eligibility for HCA funding and protection of the Pennsylvania Highlands resources.
SEE has assisted and guided our clients through the labyrinths of state agency policy, funding requirements, and partnership building nuances. Familiarity with grant programs and funding organizations has enhanced our clients’ success in acquiring additional funding from DCNR and the William Penn Foundation to continue Highlands activities well into the future.
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Pennsylvania Highlands Region Greenway |
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Greenways and Green Infrastructure: Pennsylvania Highlands Outreach Coordination |
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The National Highlands Region |
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Knowledge of Pennsylvania’s natural resources, planning efforts, and funding sources make SEE uniquely suited for this nationally significant project. |